Ridgeview Junior High School's top administrator for the past eight years will step away from his post at the end of 2009.

The Pickerington Board of Education on Monday unanimously accepted the resignation of Ridgeview Junior High principal Chuck Byers.

Byers' resignation is effective Dec. 31. He's leaving his post to become assistant director at the Fairfield Career Center in Carroll.

"Chuck Byers is an outstanding individual who has another opportunity for advancement," Superintendent Karen Mantia said. "While we're really going to miss him, we are very proud he has taken a new, elevated position. It's in an area he's had a strong interest in for some time."

The Fairfield Career Center is part of Eastland-Fairfield Career and Technical Schools, which seek to prepare youths and adults to enter the workforce or help their transition to post-secondary training, according to the district's Web site.

The district serves 16 school districts in Fairfield, Franklin and Pickaway counties. It covers 700 square miles, making it the largest career and technical district geographically in Ohio, according to its Web site.

In addition to the Fairfield Career Center, the district has a main campus in Groveport, Ohio, and five satellite locations in associated high schools, including one at Pickerington High School North.

Byers is in his eighth year as principal at Ridgeview. A 30-year educator, he came to Pickerington after serving as director of alternative education at the Perry County Educational Service Center.

"The reason I'm going (to the Fairfield Career Center) is because I'm retiring from Pickerington after 30 years as an educator," Byers said. "I also have a (bachelor of science) degree in industrial technology and a master's degree in education administration, and working at the career center allows me to blend those two degrees.

"At the career center, it's basically a technology-based school and I still get to be an administrator. I'm excited."

Mantia said Byers' replacement hasn't been selected.

"We're working on plans for his replacement," she said. "We're going to seek input from (Ridgeview) staff first before we make any moves."

She said it's unclear if his successor will come from Ridgeview or elsewhere in the district, or if the position will be filled on an interim basis.

Also on Monday, the school board accepted the resignation of Barbara Layne, a physical education instructor at Violet Elementary, effective Jan. 1.

Layne was unavailable as of press time. Her resignation letter stated she's worked in the district 31 years.

"Thank you for the opportunities for professional and personal development that you have provided me over the years," she wrote. "I have enjoyed working for Pickerington schools and appreciate the support provided me during those 31 years.

"While I look forward to enjoying my retirement, I will miss the children and wonderful teachers that I have worked with through the years."

As part of a new effort by Mantia to recognize work occurring within PLSD schools, four teachers from Tussing Elementary were honored Monday night.

Jeanne Palmisciano, a physical education teacher at Tussing, was credited with securing a grant from the Ohio Department of Transportation to develop and implement a "Walk to School Day," which Mantia said resulted in more than 350 students traveling to school on foot in September.

Beatrice Horsford, a language arts and social studies teacher at Tussing, was recognized for publishing monthly articles focusing on schools, classroom issues and making connections between parents and schools for www.columbusblack.com and the PLSD newsletter.

Melissa Woodward, a Tussing intervention specialist, was honored for writing an article about the challenges of providing classroom support and separate instruction for students who need extra instruction. The article appears in this month's issue of "The Reading Teacher" magazine.

Additionally, Tussing first-grade teacher Brian Holland was recognized for his efforts to bolster character among students at the school. As such, he's taken on the role of the school's superhero, "Tussing Man."